Hi, I just tried playing Harp through this amp, ( only used with Guitar to date} and find it is greatly lacking in Volume when Mike is plugged in? I'm having to dial up to 9 to get any sort of decent Volume out of it I use it regularly with my Tele, and has ear splitting Volume in my Loungeroom! Can anyone help?

You can use that microphone, but you'll need an impedance matching transformer to convert a low impedance microphone to high impedance. Shure makes good dynamic microphones. When you get one, make sure you turn the volume down, because that'll not only increase the output of the microphone, it'll also increase the probability that you will get feedback.

The mic you are using has a 150 Ohm impedence which is sort of low for a harp mic. I agree with angerboy that you may want to find a higher impedence mic. There are quite a few that can be had on ebay without spending too much until you decide whether you are going to play harp or not. The Blues driver is in my humble opinion one of the best boxes for harp around. You may find it handy for some things. Some of the first mics I used were 600 Ohm cheapos that worked pretty well. I read once that the best mic for harp may be the one you order a cheesburger through at a drive through window.

The Shure Sm58 is also a low impedence mic, not unlike the one you are using now. Good for clean harp sounds through a PA or low impedence input. You would be better to spend the kind of cash ($90) for a used Green Bullet or Blues Blaster. Both of which are made for harps and also have volume controls.

Plese don't take offense at this, but the Shure website can be a good friend when researching their products. You want a Hi-Z microphone. Many people will trash the current Shure 520DX, but it'll sound good with your Champ.

I agree on the 520DX. Not a real bad sounding mic for a reasonable price. Musicians Friend has them on Sale now for $89. I might also add that there is a mic for sale called the Superlux D112C that has gotten very good reviews, and can be found on Ebay for $69 "Buy It Now". With either of these mics, if after a time you feel the sound is not right , you will have a bullet shell to put other mic elements in. Both the 520DX and the Superlux D112C have volume controls, a plus when playing amplified harp.

I've been thinking about one for a while. Sort of medium Z, but made in Newcastle using an Aussie electrical socket. I'd love some to buy one and let me know how it goes.

Another option is:

http://home.alltel.net/lemurcat/ You can often find them on ebay with $1 worldwide postage. I got one on ebay without a volume pot for US$21 delivered, and it only took a week to get here. Specs reckon Ceramic element, Freq. Resp. 30-15K, Impedance 8Kohms, Sensitivity -60 dB. It is nowhere near as hot as my 520DX - closer to a vocal mike but so easy to cup and works well for cleaner sounds. It tends to be my mic of choice when playing the vocal line of tunes for the kids. It doesn't have the growl of the 520DX, but the RRP for a 520DX in Oz is $319!

One of my buddies uses a Superlux harp microphone through a 60W Pignose amp. It's a pretty good sounding combo. It was plenty loud, the tone was good and it was feedback resistant. I'd consider buying one of those. They are pretty cheap in the US. Cheaper than a 520DX.